Dream, design, and discover with Advent this summer.
Registration is open!
Explore Design at Advent, our vibrant STEM program for kids aged 5-12! Our dynamic program nurtures creativity in a supportive community, perfect for curious minds who see endless possibilities in their everyday world.
In this session, designers will take a deep dive into understanding and exploring where our food comes from, how it gets to us, and what our responsibility is as global citizens to ensure sustainable practices. Using the design process, they will ask questions, research, collaborate and create possible solutions to food insecurity, reducing our carbon footprint, and promoting farm to table practices in an urban setting.
June 23-27: Hiking Adventures
More green time…less screen time! Young adventurers will enjoy a week of day hikes to the mountains, hills, and waters of Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire.
Cost: $800 per child
Includes: Round trip transportation from the program to the nature destination each day. A hiking daypack equipped with a 2-liter hydration bladder and tube, with room for extra food and art supplies
View Design at Advent’s Policies & Procedures
Design at Advent Staff
Stephanie Foland, Director of Enrichment
Session 2: Urban Agriculture
July 7 - July 18
Cost: $1,350 for two weeks
Session 3: Cardboard Carnival
July 21 - August 1
Cost: $1,350 for two weeks
Inspired by Caine’s Arcade, designers in this session will step into the world of play based learning to create their own carnival games out of cardboard and found objects. Designers will explore potential and kinetic energy, simple machines, mechanical engineering and simple circuits to bring some of our favorite games to life.
Partner Program (for Third through Sixth Graders only)
Designers can join our summer program partners — Dave Fatula, founder of Guineafowl Adventure Company, and Kyle Browne, founder of KBCreative — for one-week or two-week adventures.
July 7-18: Arts, Exploration & Design
In the first week, designers will travel to different habitats across northeastern Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire, exploring the natural world and creating art focused on their surroundings. In the second week they’ll dive into the design process and create inspired spaces that reflect the community's needs and the surrounding natural environment.
Cost: $1,550 per child. Includes round trip transportation from the program to the nature destination each day, a hiking daypack equipped with a 2-liter hydration bladder and tube, with room for extra food and supplies, and necessary art supplies (sketchbook, watercolor set with travel paint brush and sponge, graphite pencils, sharpener and eraser, viewfinder, pencil pouch
Samantha Gold, Associate Director of Enrichment
Contact Information
(617) 742-0520 x 18 (During the school year)
(617) 742-0520 x 72 (Starting June 18, 2025)
Inspired by the students of the 2023-24 summer program, this session will combine the designers’ love of theater and the engineering design process for this one of a kind behind the scenes view of theater production. In this session, the designers will develop characters, create skits, design props, and backdrops to put on an imaginative and unique show.
*No programming on June 19
Design at Advent runs Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., with extended care offered until 5:30 p.m. The program is based out of Advent's 99 West Cedar Street building on Beacon Hill, located right off the Charles/MGH stop on the Red Line.
Summer 2025 at a glance
Session 1: Theater Engineering
June 16 - June 27*
Cost: $1,250 for two weeks